1pm: An SES crew has removed a tree branch that fell onto the roof of the police station at Corrimal during Sunday afternoon’s storm.
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“There was a branch about three metres long that actually pierced the roof and went into the men’s locker room,” Greg Nash, deputy controller of the NSW SES Coniston unit, said.
“We were able to remove the branch safely and do some temporary repairs to the roof.”
12.40pm: The SES is bracing itself for more stormy weather this week and has urged Illawarra residents to do the same.
“We’ve got a bit of unsettled weather on the cards this week, possible thunderstorms today [Monday], possible thunderstorms for the rest of the week,” NSW SES community engagement coordinator Andrew McCullough said.
“We’re asking the community to be prepared ... if we can encourage residents to take some simple steps to be prepared they can minimise the damage to their property.”
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, there’s the chance of a thunderstorm in the Illawarra early Monday afternoon.
Tuesday, Melbourne Cup Day, is expected to be cloudy with a high chance of showers, most likely in the evening.
Wednesday will be wet with a very high chance of rain. The BOM has indicated there’s a 90 per cent chance 10 to 35 millimetres could fall in Wollongong.
Thunderstorms are a chance again on Thursday and Friday.
12.30pm Monday: Illawarra SES units continue to work their way through weather-related requests for assistance following Sunday afternoon’s wild weather.
“A few more [jobs] trickled in this morning [Monday], I think as people woke up and saw the damage to their properties,” Andrew McCullough, NSW SES community engagement coordinator, said.
“We’ve got a team up from Nowra and they’re helping to knock a few of those jobs over as quickly as we can.”
As of 12.30pm Monday, the SES had received more than 55 calls for help in the Wollongong area, including the hardest-hit suburbs of Mangerton, Coniston, Keiraville and West Wollongong.
SES teams are working to complete less than 20 remaining jobs on Monday afternoon.
“Most of the jobs were for trees down as a result of the winds and a lot of roof damage,” he said.
“Looking at our map of where all the jobs are, they’re pretty much targeted to a square from Mount St Thomas, up to the southern parts of Keiraville and west to West Wollongong.
“Nothing in the CBD or east of the CBD, it was all just west of it.”
HOW IT UNFOLDED ON SUNDAY
7.30pm: A flash storm front bearing harsh winds, hail and heavy rain brought panic to West Wollongong on Sunday afternoon, with the roof of an apartment block being peeled off like a sardine can.
7.20pm: The Wollongong City SES unit says it has received 33 calls for help following this afternoon’s storm, mainly in the West Wollongong and Mangerton areas.
7.10pm: Mercury reader Elise Bedford sent us this video.
7pm: An update posted on the NSW SES Illawarra South Coast Region Facebook page.
6.40pm: The Bureau of Meteorology says severe thunderstorms are no longer affecting the Wollongong area.
“The immediate threat of severe thunderstorms has passed, but the situation will continue to be monitored and further warnings will be issued if necessary,” the BOM said in its most-recent update.
6.05pm: Emergency services are on scene at an apartment on New Dapto Road in West Wollongong, where the roof has been partially torn off.
6pm:
5.50pm: The Bureau of Meteorology says severe thunderstorms in the Illawarra have temporarily eased but warns severe thunderstorms are still possible.
The situation is being closely monitored and further detailed warnings will be issued as necessary, the BOM said.
5.40pm: Emergency services are responding to a number of weather-related incidents across the region.
5.30pm: The Bureau of Meteorology warns that, at 5:25pm, severe thunderstorms were detected on weather radar near Wollongong, Sydney City, Sydney Olympic Park, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Ryde and Bulli.
These thunderstorms are moving towards the southeast. They are forecast to affect Sydney Airport, Botany, Maroubra, Randwick, waters off Bondi Beach and Pt Kembla by 5:55 pm and Kurnell and waters off Cronulla Beach by 6:25 pm.
Large hailstones and damaging winds are likely.
5.25pm: Small hail has just fallen in the Wollongong CBD.
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5.10pm: The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that severe thunderstorms were detected on weather radar near Appin, Douglas Park, Menangle, Wilton and Lake Cataract about 5pm.
“These thunderstorms are moving towards the east. They are forecast to affect Wedderburn, Bulli, Darkes Forest, Helensburgh, Stanwell Park and waters off Thirroul by 5:30 pm and waters off Stanwell Park by 6:00 pm,” the BOM’s detailled severe weather warning said.
Large hailstones and damaging winds are likely.
The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* Move your car under cover or away from trees.
* Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
* Keep clear of fallen power lines.
* Unplug computers and appliances.
* Avoid using the phone during the storm.
* Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.
* For emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES (NSW and ACT) on 132 500.
The next warning is due to be issued by 6:00 pm.
4.45pm: The severe thunderstorm warning has been updated to include Wollongong.
4pm: A warning has been issued for parts of the Illawarra, as potentially severe thunderstorms roll in from the west.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds and large hailstones in north-western parts of the region over the next several hours.
Early afternoon on Sunday, a squall line of thunderstorms passing through the Riverina was likely to produce destructive winds.